Maybe your answer is to simply rest. You could take a nap, read a novel, meditate, or be present with a loved one. These can all be regenerative. If, at the end of the day, you feel more energized to take on tomorrow’s work tasks, then you accomplished two noble goals: 1) You did something for yourself; 2) You increased the likelihood of high performance in the area of career.
Cycles of rest and recovery from work are essential for building resilience, improving working memory, and reducing work burnout. Let’s look at the research.
There have been a variety of studies exploring the role of burnout in healthcare and other workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. One demonstrated that brief rest periods and regular sleep improved workers’ resilience under stress. Something as simple as taking a short rest and making sure you get sleep will enhance your resilience.
Another study indicated that short-term memory and visual task skills improve with adequate rest. This is why there is a legal requirement for manditory rest and sleep for commercial airline pilots. Recalling from air traffic control a detailed departure clearance or landing on a specific runway requires acute attention facilitated by adequate rest.
Dr. Rebecca Robbins, a sleep researcher at Harvard Medical School, demonstrated that healthcare workers from a large hospital network who completed wellness training improved their work performance and reduced burnout by improving their sleep habits. Participants also had a statistically significant reduction in anxiety and depression.
Wellness training and a wellness or sleep coach can help reduce burnout and improve work performance. Does this mean being a couch potato will help you achieve? As this proverb warns,
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.
Keep this in balance. A culture of hard work can be counter-productive when rest is viewed as a weakness. Sadly, the belief and behavior tend to prevail—that burning the midnight oil thinking and working longer hours leads to improved results. On the other hand, too much rest can lead to atrophy and complete depletion. But, we know that regular recovery cycles, including adequate sleep and short work breaks, improve productivity.
Do you want to achieve more in the area of your career? Then plan for cycles of downtime and adequate sleep.
Coaching Tip: Add rest to your list of daily achievement goals.
Are you motivated to achieve more? Click here for more information on how you can connect with a coach who can help integrate rest into your routine.